Development and humanitarian coordination issues to be considered in Karamoja

1. Development and humanitarian coordination issues to be considered in Karamoja UN OCHA Presentation Issues of Pastoralism Conference- Leuphana University,Luneberg, 24th October 2008

2. Overview • Development and humanitarian context • Issues of current concern • Coordination matters • Humanitarian and development advocacy

3. Context 1 • Karamoja- a region with the worst development indicators in Uganda with access to services poorer than many of the IDP camps in northern Uganda. • An agro- pastoralist area which is politically and economically marginalised. • 80% of the population living in poverty • 11% o f the population – literate • Highest HIV infection rates in Uganda • Highest levels of infant and maternal mortality in Uganda • Child malnutrition in Kaabong, Moroto and Nakapiripirit has been over the WHO emergency threshold of 10% in 2007-8. • 700, 000 people on food aid in 2008 • Increasingly frequent climatic shocks – exacerbating food security • Chronic insecurity as a result of cattle raiding, high levels of small arms ownership and punitive army operations. High levels of gender based violence.

4. Context 2 • The 5 districts of Karamoja suffer severe shortages of technical staff and a weak civil society presence. • Low levels of private sector and infrastructure development. • The people of Karamoja are considered to be the least informed population within Uganda • 9 UN agencies present – very small INGO presence. • Inchoate policy arena – PRDP and the KIDDP

5. Emergency Levels of Undernutrition FEB 2008 MOH,UNICEF,WFP assessment in 5 districts 10.9% GAM for all region but Moroto and Nakapiripirit extremely high for that time of year at >15% GAM JUNE 2008 MSF-H supported by UNICEF large-scale screening Weight for Height and Z-Score 10 Locations, 5330 children 9.5% SAM Less than 1% with complications APRIL 2008 MSF-Spain rapid assessment in Moroto and Nakapiripirit GAM 18% , SAM 3%

6. Causes of Acute Malnutrition • Karamoja is structurally vulnerable to humanitarian crises due to underdevelopment • But focus is on the immediate crisis and its causes – inadequate dietary intake and disease

7. Context 2 • The 5 districts of Karamoja suffer severe shortages of technical staff and a weak civil society presence. • Low levels of private sector and infrastructure development. • The people of Karamoja are considered to be the least informed population within Uganda • 9 UN agencies present – very small INGO presence. • Inchoate policy arena – PRDP and the KIDDP

8. Issues of concern • Increased regularity of droughts • High dependence on food aid – possibly 90% of the population will need food aid in 2009 • Demographic pressures and urbanisation • Insufficient investment in key services including livestock • Out- migration • Weak local government presence in many districts – inadequate judicial structures, shortages of key staff in health, livestock,education. (“ militarisation” of civil justice). • Marginalisation of traditional structures • A range of protection and human rights concerns – deaths and abductions in cattle raids, army cordon and search operations, detentions of youths, migration constraints, protected kraals, gender based violence

9. Coordination in Karamoja • Coordination is an essential activity to: • To enhance development and humanitarian planning • To highlight the needs of vulnerable groups • To assess gaps in service delivery • To promote advocacy and to secure funds • Districts are expected to lead on coordination – in Karamoja this is only a partial success mainly as result of inadequate capacity. • Under the UN Humanitarian Reform Programme, Uganda became a pilot programme where cluster coordination was introduced. This has also been only a partial success in Karamoja. • Key coordination structure is the DDMC – meetings are being held more frequently – between District officials, UN and NGOs • Sector/cluster coordination – working in some sectors in some districts, but there remain significant gaps.

10. Humanitarian and development advocacy • Some priorities: • The need to raise the profile of Karamoja in Uganda and internationally. • Consolidated Appeal (CAP) • Developing data – Who does what where? , assessments, analysis • The need to encourage more investment in key livelihood areas such as livestock support and agricultural settlement • Adapt service delivery to pastoralist movement – education and health care • To strengthen protection systems. • Improve the engagement between Karamojong political and social structures with policy makers and development agencies